Guiche fancied he recognized Manicamp. It was, indeed,
Manicamp himself; but as Malicorne had taken possession of
his very best costume, he had not been able to get any other
than a suit of violet velvet trimmed with silver. Guiche
recognized him as much by his dress as by his features, for
he had very frequently seen Manicamp in his violet suit,
which was his last resource. Manicamp presented himself to
the count under an arch of torches, which set in a blaze,
rather than illuminated, the gate by which Havre is entered,
and which is situated close to the tower of Francis I. The
count, remarking the woe-begone expression of Manicamp’s
face, could not resist laughing. “Well, my poor Manicamp,”
he exclaimed, “how violet you look; are you in mourning?”
“Yes,” replied Manicamp; “I am in mourning.”
“For whom, or for what?”
“For my blue-and-gold suit, which has disappeared, and in
the place of which I could find nothing but this; and I was
even obliged to economize from compulsion, in order to get
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possession of it.”
“Indeed?”
“It is singular you should be astonished at that, since you
leave me without any money.”
“At all events, here you are, and that is the principal
thing.”
“By the most horrible roads.”
“Where are you lodging?”
“Lodging?”
“Yes!”
“I am not lodging anywhere.”
De Guiche began to laugh. “Well,” said he, “where do you
intend to lodge?”
“In the same place you do.”
“But I don’t know, myself.”
“What do you mean by saying you don’t know?”
“Certainly, how is it likely I should know where I should
stay?”
“Have you not retained an hotel?”
“I?”
“Yes, you or the prince.”
“Neither of us has thought of it. Havre is of considerable
size, I suppose; and provided I can get a stable for a dozen
horses, and a suitable house in a good quarter —- ”
“Certainly, there are some very excellent houses.”
“Well then —- ”
“But not for us.”
“What do you mean by saying not for us? — for whom, then?”
“For the English, of course.”
“For the English?”
“Yes; the houses are all taken.”
“By whom?”
“By the Duke of Buckingham.”
“I beg your pardon?” said Guiche, whose attention this name
had awakened.
“Yes, by the Duke of Buckingham. His Grace was preceded by a
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courier, who arrived here three days ago, and immediately
retained all the houses fit for habitation the town
possesses.”
“Come, come, Manicamp, let us understand each other.”
“Well, what I have told you is clear enough, it seems to
me.”
“But surely Buckingham does not occupy the whole of Havre?”
“He certainly does not occupy it, since he has not yet
arrived; but, once disembarked, he will occupy it.”
“Oh! oh!”
“It is quite clear you are not acquainted with the English;
they have a perfect rage for monopolizing everything.”
“That may be; but a man who has the whole of one house, is
satisfied with it, and does not require two.”
“Yes, but two men?”
“Be it so; for two men, two houses, or four or six, or ten,
if you like; but there are a hundred houses at Havre.”
“Yes, and all the hundred are let.”
“Impossible!”
“What an obstinate fellow you are. I tell you Buckingham has
hired all the houses surrounding the one which the queen
dowager of England and the princess her daughter will
inhabit.”
“He is singular enough, indeed,” said De Wardes, caressing
his horse’s neck.
“Such is the case, however, monsieur.”
“You are quite sure of it, Monsieur de Manicamp?” and as he
put this question, he looked slyly at De Guiche, as though
to interrogate him upon the degree of confidence to be
placed in his friend’s state of mind. During this discussion
the night had closed in, and the torches, pages, attendants,
squires, horses, and carriages, blocked up the gate and the
open place; the torches were reflected in the channel, which
the rising tide was gradually filling, while on the other
side of the jetty might be noticed groups of curious
lookers-on, consisting of sailors and townspeople, who
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